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College of Human Medicine

August College News Headlines

August 28, 2024

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Healthier Communities

  • Photo above. Kalamazoo Rx Kids, the City of Kalamazoo’s first-ever cash prescription program for expectant mothers and infants, will launch in 2025. The program, which is an expansion of Flint Rx Kids and a statewide program, will provide a no-strings-attached cash prescription of $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 each month for the first year of a baby’s life. Related: MSUToday, Detroit Free Press, Bridge Magazine, Yahoo News.
  • In an episode of ‘JR Sunday with Mark Hollis for The Great Voice, Jennifer Johnson, PhD, the founding chair of the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, discussed public health challenges. She detailed her impact on the Flint community through MSU initiatives and addressed rural versus urban health challenges, and efforts to increase telehealth access in the area.
  • An MSUToday story about the university’s rural health education and innovation included the college’s rural medicine program. “As someone who was born and raised in rural northern Michigan, the Leadership in Rural Medicine program enabled me to care for the underserved patients that I've always held close to my heart,” said Hope Bauer, MD, a urogynecology fellow.

Student Success

Research and Scholarship

  • MSUToday reported that almost 10% of US lung transplants go to COVID-19 patients. Xiaopeng Li, PhD, and researchers from Corewell Health and Cleveland Clinic have made a significant breakthrough in understanding post-COVID-19 lung complications.
  • According the Detroit News, Wayne County reported its first Mpox case since 2022. Michael Brown, MD, University Physician and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, discusses transmission of both the Mpox and COVID-19 viruses. Related: MSUToday, WXYZ, WKAR.
  • MSUToday covered new research from Honglei Chen, PhD, MSU Research Foundation Professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, that shows losing the ability to smell may be associated with the risk of heart failure in older adults, even those who say they are in excellent health.
  • WILX TV interviewed Jonathan Gold, MD, a pediatrician with MSU Health Care and associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, about the increase in infectious illnesses as children return to school.
  • Yahoo! News reports recommendations around daily aspirin use have shifted due to its associated risks and benefits. Jamie Alan, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, highlights that “there are certain medications that interact with aspirin, such as digoxin and warfarin,” and mentions that “there are also conditions such as stomach ulcers where aspirin is not recommended.”
  • MSUToday reports Bin Chen, PhD, and researchers at Corewell Health are the first in the state to use de-identified electronic health records of more than 1.5 million patients to analyze incidence rates and risk factors of mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, in rural and urban areas in West Michigan.
  • Women’s Health (UK) reports on headache types and locations with guidance from Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, director of the division of neuromuscular medicine. “Headaches are often triggered, [and] the trigger typically drives the location of the headache,” he said. Dr. Sachdev recommends “keeping an eye out for ‘red flag’ symptoms that indicate you should seek treatment soon.”
  • An a Food and Wine interview, Jamie Alan, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, discusses exposure to an herbicide that can cause ‘irreversible’ damage to unborn babies.
  • The Washington Post reports on a White House announcement of "$26 million in new funding to test for and remove lead from water in schools and child-care facilities, two months ahead of plans to publish a new rule requiring such testing at elementary and middle schools.” Mona Hanna, MD, associate dean of public health, said, “It is absolutely not enough money to make sure, with confidence, that when we send our children to school that their tap water is not contaminated.”
  • Medscape interviewed Saleh Aldasouqi, MD, chief of endocrinology, about his research on a phenomenon he calls "Fasting-Evoked En Route Hypoglycemia in Diabetes.”
  • Yahoo! News reports on new research regarding daily caffeine intake and the risk of heart disease. Jamie Alan, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, noted that consuming caffeine “will increase heart rate, open up the lungs and increase wakefulness.” Related: Food & Wine
  • MSUToday featured the work of Jennifer Johnson, PhD, the founding chair of the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, who helped to build an academic department from the ground up in partnership with the Flint community.
  • In a Yahoo News story on the safety of consuming artificial sweeteners, Jamie Alan, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, discusses the research and potential health risks.
  • Yahoo! News covered the death of Jack Russell of the band Great White, after a recent diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia and Multiple System Atrophy. Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, assistant professor and director of the Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, explained the condition and how it differs from other forms of dementia. “Family will see changes that are more obvious earlier in the disease than would be seen in Alzheimer’s, vascular or other forms of dementia,” he said.
  • In an interview with Yahoo News, Jamie Alan, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, discusses perchlorate, a chemical compound found in rocket fuel that is ‘contaminating’ food and water, according to Consumer Reports.

Staff & Faculty Success

  • Robert Malinowski, PhD, was appointed director of assessment. Previously, Malinowski served as the associate director of assessment. He is an assistant professor in the Office of Medical Education, Research, and Development.
  • Molly Monet has joined the College of Human Medicine as an admissions counselor.
  • Mona Hanna, MD, associate dean for public health, is among three MSU scholars and leaders named to the Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship. ACES is an international academy of individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing university-community collaboration.

Alumni News

  • Don't miss the excitement of Alumni Weekend 2024 as we Cheers to 60 Years! Celebrate in true Spartan spirit at MSU College of Human Medicine's Alumni Weekend as we reconnect with old friends, celebrate our shared journey, and look back and create new memories with joy, camaraderie, and even some “Go Green!" RSVP for Alumni Weekend.